Sealyham Terrier Dog Breed

The Sealyham Terrier is a Welsh breed names for the Sealyham estate of Captain John Edwardes. Edwardes sought to create the perfect canine to rid his property of otters, badgers and other varmint. He succeeded in producing a Terrier that is confident, determined and devoted with a humorous personality and a true affinity for people. Sealyhams are small but sturdy with long heads and weather resistant, wiry coats; the top layer is wiry and long-- Sealyhams are known for their nearly all white color and "fall" of hair down their face. Between WWI and WWII the Sealyham Terrier had made its way to America and was owned by stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Humphrey Bogart and Alfred Hitchcock. After the second World War the population of Sealyhams dropped so low they became a rare breed. Harry Parsons, a Sealyham Terrier breeder and founder of the Working Sealyham Terrier Club, is credited with pulling the breed from the brink of extinction and working to gain more recognition to this day. Keep reading our pros and cons below to decide if the breed could be for you:

The immense confidence of the Sealyham is not without merit. He/she is very trainable which is excellent for first time dog owners. They are pretty smart and training should progress quickly, however, this also means you need to keep them occupied. Sealyhams need plenty of attention and just the right amount of exercise.

Members of this breed are notoriously "people dogs". They are affectionate and devoted to their owners. Although they may bark at the approach of a stranger, they usually regard newcomers with a friendly curiosity. Sealyhams are good choices for almost every household but get along better with older children. Children should always be supervised around dogs and taught how to gently handle pets. This breed typically gets along well with other dogs but may have too strong an interest in small, non canine pets.

Sealyhams don't need too much exercise on a daily basis. A couple brisk walks or some playtime in a fenced yard should do the trick. They enjoy different type of training as well: obedience, agility, rally and earthdog are all different areas of competition that he/she will excel in-- plus, training is a way to keep the mind exercised. Bored terriers have been known to be quite loud and destructive.

The Sealyham Terrier temperament is that of a big dog in a small package. They are alert, confident, proud, determined but also affectionate people dogs that are highly trainable. They make good watchdogs as they have no qualms about loudly barking. Sealyhams get along well with almost everyone-- strangers, friends, other pets-- however, we recommend that families with children teach them how to properly handle pets. Terriers have a natural fire that and are known for not responding well to rough play and handling. These little comedians will want to live indoors with you as they thrive off human interaction.

Members of this breed are typically easy to train. They enjoy obedience, agility, rally and earthdog training. Keeping their busy minds occupied is key to preventing unwanted behavior such as excessive digging or barking. It's not difficult to keep them happy and exercised; a couple brisk walks or some playtime in a fenced yard will be perfect. Always keep your Sealyham leashed when not in an enclosed area as their nose often leads them quickly in directions it shouldn't.

The Sealyham Terrier is a very hardy little dog with few health issues and will live a long, healthy 12-14 years. A few potential health concerns include:

• Problems with the eyes such as Glaucoma and Primary Lens Luxation
• Intervertebral Disc Disease
• Allergies and other skin problems
• Ear infections

The AKC notes that eye infections can be avoided by keeping the eye area clean, removing tear stains and "eye boogers" as they appear. They also recommend cutting the long eyebrows of the Sealyham if he/she is a pet not shown in competitions.